Gold and platinum(II) complexes of the phosphine ligands PArnPh3-n (Ar=naphthyl, anthracenyl, ferrocenyl and other polyaromatic groups) have been synthesised. The electron donating abilities of naphthyl and anthracenyl phosphine ligands has been explored using gas phase photoelectron spectral data on the parent phosphines and their relative complexing ability to platinum precursor molecules has been assessed by means of synthetic studies and NMR experiments. Their steric parameters have been estimated by the Tolman cone angle methodology using X-ray crystallographic data. The molecular structures of the gold complexes [AuCl(PAn2Ph)]·CHCl3 and [Au(PFc2Ph)2]·CHCl3 have been determined.
